The Edison films present the viewer with a brief look into a simple situation. The characters and figures are placed on an even plane with the camera and are centered in the middle of the frame. The situations that are presented are examples of ordinary, which include a barbershop, a cockfight, and a boxer. Additionally, there are features that show a more interesting entity or situation.
The Serpentine dancer and the Sandow are different due to the minimal backdrop and the level of detail on the main figure. In the case of the dancer, paints were applied to create a crude color scheme. This was probably an experimental process.
One striking feature that is universal amongst the short clips is the similarity between the film segments and a painting. A typical painting that could have been found during this time period would have focused primarily on a simple setting or human figures. Prior to film, static art, either painting or photographs were the primary media though which a story could be told. The Edison films appear to be a painting that has been translated into a new form with the added element of time.
Lumiere Brothers
These clips are similar to the Edison films in that they focus on a setting or a group of characters. The same elements of 'front and center' apply. The clip of the city street and the boys jumping off the dock are a good example of this. The films in general look similar in many respects to a painting or photograph.
Two of the Lumiere brother's clips presented the viewer with a new and emerging dimension to the environment of the film. Instead of just showing a situation with a setting and characters moving around in it, the clip of the gardener and the clip of the blanket toss add an element of comedy. This is a unique aspect as it attempts to convey a more complex idea to the audience. While other clips simple presented the viewer with a scene without a story, these two clips experimented with a primitive form of persuaded interpretation. That is, the film tries to create a comedic response from the audience.
D.W. Griffith: Birth of a Nation
This film is much different from the other films that were around during this time period. Nearly all of the elements of film are used in a unique way. The camera angles are different in their relationship to the environment and the objects placed within it. The figures of humans are not placed in the front and aligned to the center. This is a departure from the Edison and Lumiere style films. Characters are placed in varying distances from the camera and are permitted to move in and out of the frame.
Differences in content delivery and structure are also present. The characters possess and identity and personality and are not nameless bodies that populate the frame. The use of named characters allows the story to be more complex and more engaging to the viewer. The audience now has an entity to relate to. Sentiments, fears, and ideas can be communicated through the film more effectively with this added element.
Muybridge Photographs
This experiment with moving images is a stepping stone in the creation of the new media of film. These photographs individually are static images but when viewed in rapid succession, an illusion of time and action is created. This sequence of images is difficult to watch because of the irregular nature of duration of the images and the differences in the breaks between the photographs. Some actions are smooth, like the horse jumping but most have too few images showing per second.
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